Hibiscus plant named ‘Trinidad Wind’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hibiscus  plant named ‘Trinidad Wind’, characterized by its upright, somewhat outwardly spreading, uniformly mounded and dense plant habit appropriate for container production; glossy dark green-colored leaves; uniform, freely and early flowering habit; large bright red-colored flowers with dark red-colored centers; and good postproduction and garden performance.

Botanical designation: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘TRINIDAD WIND’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Hibiscus plant,botanically known as Hibiscus rosa-sinensis and hereinafter referred toby the name ‘Trinidad Wind’.

The new Hibiscus plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Alva, Fla. The objective of the breedingprogram is to create new freely-branching Hibiscus plants with a dense,uniform and compact plant habit appropriate for container production,early and uniform flowering habit, numerous flowers per lateral branch,desirable flower color and good garden performance.

The new Hibiscus plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in Alva, Fla. in October, 2001 of a proprietary selection ofHibiscus rosa-sinensis identified as code number YB-1875, not patented,as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Hibiscusrosa-sinensis identified as code number YB-2079, not patented, as themale, or pollen, parent. The new Hibiscus plant was discovered andselected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progenyof the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environmentin Alva, Fla. on Sep. 9, 2002.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hibiscus plant by vegetative terminalcuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Alva, Fla. sinceFebruary, 2003 has shown that the unique features of this new Hibiscusplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may varysomewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperatureand light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Trinidad Wind’. These characteristicsin combination distinguish ‘Trinidad Wind’ as a new and distinctHibiscus plant:

-   -   1. Upright, somewhat outwardly spreading, uniformly mounded and        dense plant habit appropriate for container production.    -   2. Glossy dark green-colored leaves.    -   3. Uniform, freely and early flowering habit.    -   4. Large bright red-colored flowers with dark red-colored        centers.    -   5. Good postproduction and garden performance.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the femaleparent selection. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ from plants of thefemale parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus are more outwardly spreading than        plants of the female parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus have smaller flowers than plants        of the female parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Hibiscus and the female parent selection        differ slightly in flower color as plants of the female parent        selection have darker red-colored flower centers.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the male parentselection. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ from plants of the maleparent selection primarily in flower color as plants of the male parentselection have scarlet red-colored flowers with lighter red-coloredcenters.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the Hibiscusrosa-sinensis ‘Brilliant Red’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisonsconducted in Alva, Fla., plants of the new Hibiscus differed from plantsof ‘Brilliant Red’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus were more upright than plants of        ‘Brilliant Red’.    -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus were more freely branching than        plants of ‘Brilliant Red’.    -   3. Plants of the new Hibiscus had smaller flowers than plants of        ‘Brilliant Red’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Hibiscus plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Hibiscus plant.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view oftypical flowering plants of ‘Trinidad Wind’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet comprises a close-up view of atypical flowering plant of ‘Trinidad Wind’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the summer in 15-cm containersin a fiberglass-covered greenhouse in Alva, Fla. and under culturalpractices which closely approximate commercial Hibiscus production.During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 20° C.to 38° C., night temperatures ranged from 15° C. to 24° C. and lightlevels ranged from 3,000 to 4,000 foot-candles. Plants were pinched twotimes and were 27 weeks old when the photographs and the descriptionwere taken. In the description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ‘Trinidad Wind’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Hibiscus            rosa-sinensis identified as code number YB-1875, not            patented.        -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Hibiscus            rosa-sinensis identified as code number YB-2079, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots.—About 10 days at temperatures of 24°            C.        -   Time to develop roots.—About four weeks at temperatures of            24° C.        -   Root description.—Thick, fibrous; white in color.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; moderately dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Perennial, evergreen, upright,            somewhat outwardly spreading, compact, uniformly mounded and            dense; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.        -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with lateral            branches potentially develop at every node; pinching            enhances lateral branch development.        -   Plant height.—About 38 cm.        -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 43 cm.-   Lateral branch description:    -   -   Length.—About 24 cm.        -   Diameter.—About 8 mm.        -   Internode length.—About 2.1 cm.        -   Aspect.—Upright to outwardly spreading.        -   Texture.—Immature, smooth; mature, woody and rough.        -   Color, immature.—Close to 146A.        -   Color, mature.—Close to 197A to 197B.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, single; numerous; symmetrical.        -   Length.—About 7 cm.        -   Width.—About 6 cm.        -   Shape.—Cordate with truncate tendencies.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Cordate.        -   Margin.—Crenate.        -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Smooth, glabrous.        -   Luster, upper surface.—Glossy.        -   Luster, lower surface.—Somewhat glossy.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.        -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: More green than            N137A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146A.            Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker green than            147A; venation, close to 147A. Fully expanded leaves, lower            surface: Close to 1478; venation, close to 146A.        -   Petiole.—Length: About 4.1 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.            Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper            surface: Close to 147A. Color, lower surface: Close to 146A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and flowering habit.—Rounded star-shaped            flowers arranged at terminal leaf axils; uniform and freely            flowering habit with about three or four flowers per            terminal; flowers face mostly upright to outwardly.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Hibiscus flower            naturally during the spring and summer or during periods of            warm weather; plants flower year-round in the greenhouse.        -   Flower longevity.—Flowers last about two to three days on            the plant; flowers persistent.        -   Flower diameter.—About 10 cm.        -   Flower length (height).—About 7.5 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Resistance to abscission during shipping:            Plants of the new Hibiscus have been observed to resist            flower bud drop when stored in a closed box for five days at            13° C. Length: About 2.5 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 cm. Shape:            Ovoid. Color: More green than 146A.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Corolla consists of five petals that            are fused at base; petals imbricate. Length: About 7.25 cm.            Width: About 6.5 cm. Shape: Roughly spatulate. Apex:            Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire; slightly undulate.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous; velvety; veins prominent on the            lower surface. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper            surface: Close to 45A; towards the base, close to 53A. When            opening and fully opened, lower surface: Close to 45B;            towards the base, close to 53B to 53C.        -   Sepals.—Appearance: Five sepals fused into a tubular            star-shaped calyx. Length: About 2.5 cm. Width: About            1.15 cm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Sharply acute. Margin:            Entire. Texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; waxy.            Texture, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper            surface: Close to 146C. Color, lower surface: More green            than 146A.        -   Bracts.—Appearance: About seven fused at base. Length: About            1.2 cm. Width: About 4 mm. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces: More green than            147A.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm. Aspect:            Upright to slightly outward. Strength: Strong, flexible.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: More green than 146A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: Numerous,            about 50 per flower. Filament length: About 1 cm. Filament            color: Close to 46A. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther length:            About 1 mm. Anther color: Close to 13A. Amount of pollen:            Scarce. Pollen color: Close to 13A. Gynoecium: Pistil            number: One per flower. Pistil length: About 7.2 cm. Style            length: About 6.2 cm. Style texture: Smooth, glabrous; waxy.            Style color: Close to 46A. Stigma appearance: Five-parted,            rounded. Stigma color: Close to 53A. Ovary color: Close to            11C to 11D.        -   Seeds and fruits.—Seed and fruit production has not been            observed on plants of the new Hibiscus.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have been observed to    have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain and    temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about 38° C.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Hibiscus grown under    Florida production conditions have not been shown to be susceptible    to pathogens common to Hibiscus such as Pseudomonas, Pythium and    Phytophthora. Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been observed to    be resistant to pests and other pathogens.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hibiscus plant named ‘TrinidadWind’ as illustrated and described.